Published: 18 September 2024
West Australian jeweller Linneys this week launched an Argyle Pink™ Diamond Quokka worth half a million dollars!
A fusion of exceptional artistry and unparalleled rarity, Linneys Argyle Pink™ Quokka is a celebration of two of Western Australia’s most treasured icons: rare Argyle Pink Diamonds™ from the now-closed Argyle Diamond Mine, and the beloved quokka, known as the world’s happiest animal, native to the beautiful shores of Rottnest Island (Wadjemup).
To mark this occasion, here’s four other luxurious items that can be discovered or harvested from land and sea in Western Australia.
Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm, Dampier Peninsula
South Sea Pearls, Broome
Broome (Rubibi) in WA’s North West is the home of the South Sea pearls – among the largest and most coveted commercially harvested cultured pearls in the world.
Their discovery in the 1800s fuelled a mass migration where Japanese, Filipino and Malay pearl divers arrived in droves seeking their fortune, creating a melting pot of cultures that makes Broome the multicultural town it is today.
Since then, Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm has harvested a lustrous beauty 22.24mm in diameter (on display in their Broome showroom), with Willie Creek Pearls producing a 20.12mm treasure.
In 2024, Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm launched 15 new Eco Tents, with Willie Creek Pearls unveiling its new houseboat adventure, making experiences in Australia’s pearling capital more accessible than ever.
Black Truffles, Margaret River Region and Manjimup
The Southern Forests town of Manjimup in WA’s South West produces the largest amount of rare black Perigord truffle in the Southern Hemisphere, and up to 90 per cent of Australia’s truffle exports.
Visitors to Manjimup can experience a truffle hunt from June to August, getting hands-on to unearth this highly south after “black gold”.
In 2024, the Margaret River Region also welcomed its first every truffle hunt experience, with Margaret River Truffle Farm launching tours among the rows of their its 8-year old hazelnut and oak tree orchard – an additional culinary offering in Australia’s premium wine region.
Manjimup truffles, The Truffle & Wine Co.
2022 Fruit Day Vanya, Cullen Wines
The Margaret River Region has produced countless wines of global recognition since Cape Mentelle and Leeuwin Estate won awards for their respective Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay in the early 1980s.
One of the other founding wineries in Australia’s most premium wine producing region is Cullen Wines, which has forged a reputation of quality and sustainability since first plantings.
Cullen Wines practices biodynamic viticulture, a philosophy that combines the maintenance of sustainable soil fertility and the recognition of the link between plant growth and the rhythms of the cosmos.
Produced from 51-year-old vines, the 2022 Fruit Day Vanya is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that was harvested in late March on a fruit day, with Venus, Mars and Saturn in conjunction. It is currently available online or from the cellar door, for AUD$900.
Australian Kangaroo One Tonne Gold Coin, The Perth Mint
Perth (Boorloo) is home to the world’s largest gold coin, with the Australian Kangaroo One Tonne Gold Coin on display at The Perth Mint.
The gold coin tips the scales at a massive one tonne of 99.99% pure gold. Measuring about 80 centimetres wide and 12 centimetres deep it is the biggest, heaviest and most valuable gold bullion coin in the world.
The coin is housed in the gold exhibition, which includes a chance to hold a large gold bullion bar and watch a live gold pour, while paying homage to WA’s goldrush history from the 1890s through to today.